Britney Scholter, director of Teaching and Learning, told the Urbandale Comm School District board that the district’s revised Teacher Leadership program has markedly increased participation and role clarity. Scholter said the revised plan moved identified teacher leaders from 17% under the old model to 38% this year and that “100% of the roles that we put forth were filled.”

The update, delivered during the annual policy briefing, described three categories of teacher‑leader positions: full‑time classroom teachers with added leadership duties, full‑release instructional coaches, and curriculum facilitators. Scholter said the district also added induction coaches and peer mentors dedicated to initial license teachers; the two induction coaches each serve about 20 teachers across the system.

Scholter described training launched last spring and ongoing weekly check‑ins between induction coaches, peer mentors and new teachers. She said teacher‑leader responsibilities were made more targeted (for example, curriculum leads for K–5 literacy and roles focused on special education and digital learning) to reduce role overload previously reported by staff.

Board members pressed on durability and evaluation. Scholter said the district will monitor the plan for two years and then identify whether updates are needed. She also told trustees that teachers in leader roles sign a one‑year commitment and then may recommit or be reselected.

The board did not vote on the program during the Nov. 10 meeting; the presentation functioned as an informational update on implementation and early outcomes.